Chapter 88-1: Pull Him Back (1) |
Real world, Yelan City.
Hospital.
Pei Yun sat on the bench outside the hospital room, his right hand tightly clutching the diagnosis report.
The doctor’s words echoed repeatedly in his ears, like a cold blade slowly slicing through his heart. His eyes were already bloodshot.
At this moment, he lowered his head and picked up the medical report in his hand.
Name: Yan Liwan
Gender: Female
Admission Date: March 2nd, 2524
Age: 54
The patient was admitted after experiencing persistent low-grade fever, rapid weight loss, hematuria, edema, and eventually falling into a coma.
According to the family’s account, the patient’s condition suddenly deteriorated three days ago, marked by persistent low-grade fever, a significant weight loss of approximately 15 kilograms, overall fatigue, reduced appetite, and subsequent coma. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the patient’s family carries a genetic disease (caused by gene damage from mutation warheads during the Mechanical War era, with a low probability of inheritance).
Examinations: …
Diagnosis:
Confirmed to be a genetic disease. The patient’s kidney organs x2 have entered a state of continuous deterioration triggered by sudden genetic failure. This condition is irreversible.
Treatment plan: Immediate transfer to Lunar Eclipse City on the Moon is recommended for gene repair treatment, or alternatively, for new organ cultivation and transplantation in Lunar Eclipse City.
—
Gene deterioration.
These four words were like a curse, completely shattering Pei Yun’s peaceful life.
He knew that his family’s medical history included genetic deterioration.
This condition dated back to the Mechanical War era, when the mechanical race launched multiple mutation warheads on Yelan City, causing massive destruction.
Nearly half the city’s human population died from genetic collapse. Those who survived often developed gene deterioration, a disease that could be inherited with low probability.
His grandfather had died from gene deterioration, and now his mother was showing the same symptoms.
He knew he needed to make a decision quickly.
Standing up, he walked to the room and looked through the window at his mother, who was lying there frail, her body covered in tubes. Then, with determination, he turned and left.
Upon returning home, he went straight to the game pod in his study.
Lying inside the pod, as the lid slowly lowered, Pei Yun closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he was already at the respawn point in Emperor’s Mound Village.
He summoned the function panel, opened his Star Vein slots, and looked at his current Star Vein combination. Though reluctant, he unhesitatingly chose to strip and dismantle them.
Soon, only Slot 1 remained, where the Owl-Headed Fiend Inherited Soul, which could not be dismantled, was still embedded.
He purchased a Gargoyle Inherited Soul from the Inherited Soul Store, replaced the Owl-Headed Fiend with it, and continued the dismantling process.
After finishing, he closed the Star Vein interface, summoned the ranking function, and initiated a connection request to a player on the leaderboard.
Soon, a connection success notification popped up in his mind.
God King: “Hey man, what’s up?”
Darkness Approaches: “You buying Sacrificial Power?”
God King: “I’m buying. As much as you’ve got. Name your price.”
Darkness Approaches: “170 credits per point. I’ll sell you all the Sacrificial Power I have.”
God King: “OK. Give me your bank account number. Once I receive it, I’ll log off and transfer the funds. My name’s your guarantee. Just transfer the Sacrificial Power to me.”
Darkness Approaches: “Got it.”
—
Fifteen minutes later, Pei Yun sat on his sofa after exiting the game, clutching his phone.
At that moment, a transfer notification popped up on his screen.
Seeing the seven-digit figure, Pei Yun shot up and rushed toward the hospital.
An hour and a half later, Pei Yun arrived at the hospital.
Meeting again with the doctor in charge of his mother’s care, Pei Yun proposed his plan to bring his mother to Lunar Eclipse City for treatment and asked the doctor to help make the arrangements.
After listening, the elderly doctor, already in his fifties, fell silent briefly before nodding.
“In that case… I’ll try to contact them for you. But be aware, the surgery will be very expensive. You’ll need to handle the currency exchange in advance, and none of the treatment costs are reimbursable.”
“I understand. I want her treated,” Pei Yun replied firmly.
The doctor nodded in understanding, then turned his chair and pressed the wake-up button on the desk. A virtual screen popped up.
During the doctor’s operation, Pei Yun stood beside him, expressionless, but his mind was already a mess of chaotic thoughts.
Half an hour later, the doctor suddenly sighed, turned his chair to face Pei Yun, and said regretfully.
“I’m sorry. The treatment appointments in Lunar Eclipse City are fully booked… They’re no longer accepting new patient transfers.”
Hearing these words, Pei Yun said nothing, but his hand gripping the medical report slowly tightened.
The air seemed to freeze, his chest weighed down as if by a mountain, making it hard even to breathe.
This answer completely shattered any chance of saving his mother.
Even though he had sold off all his in-game resources and acquired a huge sum of cash.
But the rules of the Lunar Eclipse race were not something he could change on his own. Even the Human Federation had to follow the protocols set by the AI brains when dealing with the Lunar Eclipse race, with no exceptions.
“Take my kidneys and give them to my mom.”
As his thoughts churned, Pei Yun, eyes red, spoke firmly.
“It’s not something you can donate just because you say so. A series of compatibility tests are required. While after the Mechanical War it became legal for healthy individuals to donate both kidneys at once… but… you’re still young.”
Despite the doctor’s attempts to dissuade him, Pei Yun had already made up his mind.
Having grown up in a single-parent family, his mother held unparalleled meaning for him.
She was the financial backbone of the family, working multiple part-time jobs to raise him, and the emotional support who filled the void left by his absent father with endless care and love.
Now that his mother’s condition was worsening, without a suitable organ replacement, he would lose her forever.
This decision might cost him everything, but in his eyes, his mother stood above all else, even above himself.
Pei Yun remained resolute against the doctor’s persuasion.
Finally, the doctor brought over the evaluation forms that needed to be filled out.
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